Fixed Site service Info Victoria’s free pill testing service is now open at 95 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. Hours are: Thursdays 10am - 4pm Fridays 1pm - 7pm Saturdays 1pm - 7pm Extended Summer Hours Victoria's new fixed site for drug checking (aka. pill testing) has opened at 95 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. The Victorian Government is trialling this new health service to reduce possible drug-related harm. The service will be able to provide health and safety information about drug use by peer harm reduction workers. It is expected to open by August 2025, and the trial will operate for up to 12 months. This follows the successful launch of a mobile drug checking service at five music festivals from December 2024 to April 2025 . The Victorian Pill Testing Service is a free and confidential service that analyses your drugs and tells you what’s in them. We provide accurate information and non-judgmental health and harm reduction advice to help you make safer decisions about drug use. Funded by: How it works Everyone is welcome to use this service. When you arrive, you’ll provide a small sample of your substance for testing. While waiting for results you can chat with peers or health workers about harm reduction, have a cuppa or just hang out and watch the chemists at work. When the chemist has completed the tests, you’ll get your results in a private consultation room where a peer harm reduction worker will explain what was found and if needed, provide health and safety advice. Important to remember No identifying information is collected during ANY of the process. You can’t be arrested or charged for using the service. However, protections ONLY apply WITHIN the service area, so please ONLY BRING A VERY SMALL sample (less than a traffickable amount). If you are unsure what that is, see below. We can test most substances in pill/tablet form, powders, capsules, crystals and liquids. We can’t test plant material, highly diluted substances, or edibles. The Law Use Trafficking Possession The trafficable quantities are: • amphetamine: 3 grams • cannabis: 250 grams or 10 plants • cocaine: 3 grams • GHB: 50 grams • heroin: 3 grams • ketamine: 3 grams • MDMA (ecstasy): 3 grams • methylamphetamine (ice) : 3 grams These quantities include the drug plus any ‘cutters’. These trafficable quantities can change if the law changes. If you have less than a trafficable quantity of a drug, the police could still charge you with possession, or with trafficking if it looks like you were selling it. ie. in separate baggies etc. _________________ * 'Drugs ,the Law and Safer Substance Use' resource by Victoria Legal Aid Drugs & The Law resource Possession The police can charge you with possession (outside the pill testing service) if you have a drug: • on your body • in your house • in a car that you own or are driving. Possession of prescription drugs like methadone, steroids or benzodiazepines is okay if you have a prescription. The prescription must be up-to-date and made out to you. It is legal in Victoria to possess new or used syringes. Try not to carry drugs on you when you are carrying syringes. ________________ * 'Drugs ,the Law and Safer Substance Use' resource by Victoria Legal Aid Drugs & The Law resource Using Drugs The police can charge you if they see you using or you admit to using: • an illegal drug, or • a drug you do not have a prescription for. Use includes smoking, inhaling fumes, injecting, swallowing, or consuming a drug in other ways. If you admit to injecting someone else with a drug, the police can charge you with ‘introducing a drug into the body of another person’. If that person dies, you may be charged with a serious criminal offence. _________________ * 'Drugs, the Law and Safer Substance Use' resource by Victoria Legal Aid Drugs & The Law resource Contact Us Address 95 Brunswick Street Fitzroy Contact Phone: 1 800 762 844 Email: info@vicpilltesting.org.au Website: www.vicpilltesting.org.au Opening Hours from AUGUST 2025 Thurs. 12pm-4pm Fri. 3pm-7pm Sat. 1pm-7pm Sunday to Wednesday CLOSED Like, Follow & Comment

In 2016, DW expanded its services in response to a need and partnered with a range of collaborators to provide support and infrastructure to festivals to respond to Sexual and Gender Based Violence (GB,) other onsite traumas and psychological distress. DanceWize's NEW Gender Based Violence and Mental Health Services In November 2016, DW expanded its services in response to a need and partnered with a range of collaborators to provide support and infrastructure to festivals to respond to Gender Based Violence (GBV,) other onsite traumas and mental health/psychological distress.  The service acknowledges that there are often disclosures of GBV in the DW space due to the reputation of DW as a safe and non judgmental place where patrons can discuss any issues relating to their drug use and wellbeing. The service also supports the psychological wellbeing of patrons, event staff and volunteers. DW acknowledges that responding to GBV, trauma and psychological distress at music festivals is unique and requires specialist knowledge about responding to AOD, trauma and mental health presentations and the service is provided by peers with appropriate qualifications and extensive experience in the fields of sexual assault, family violence, AOD, trauma and mental health. The services offered are tailored to the industry and acknowledge the unique social, cultural and individual factors of a festival that may result in GBV and psychological distress, paying particular attention to breaking down the barriers to disclosing in the festival context. The service focuses on primary and secondary prevention – providing consultation to festivals about ways to reduce the risk of GBV that includes training and reviewing of policies and procedures, and offering onsite services that are designed to respond to and lessen the immediate and long term of harm of GBV, respond to more complex mental health presentations or onsite traumas, and provide debriefing to staff and volunteers, The service is trauma-informed, focusing on responding to and supporting people in care through establishing safety and trust, valuing client centred care, upholding victim survivor rights, and is guided by the national standards for the delivery of sexual assault services. Pre-event capacity building and consultation Provision of training on Responding to Disclosures of Sexual Assault at Music festivals (DanceWize and CASA House training) and training booklets Provision of training on Bystander Intervention and Understanding trauma A library of resources available to festivals – brochures for appropriate mental health, sexual assault and family violence services from all across Australia A library of posters available to festivals on consent, supporting survivor’s, responding to disclosures of sexual assault and bystander intervention -developed in collaboration with WestCASA and designed for the music industry Expert consultation on festival sexual assault and harassment policies and procedures, including the provision of templates Festival social media/public messaging advice about consent, GBV and harassment Ability to foster a festivals relationship with local SOCIT’s and CASA’s to ensure that local services are aware of the festival operating Advise event staff of risk factors of GBV at festivals at pre-event planning meetings; Expert advice about the development of processes and procedures relating to the removal of alleged perpetrators Development of flow charts, cheat sheets on responding to sexual assault for event staff Onsite Service Delivery Provision of a separate safe space behind the DW Chill Area Provision of qualified counsellors who work collaboratively with EMT’s to manage risk of wider festival safety Provision of temporary accommodation Resources, and counselling and support provided to people in care Ability to engage with the event’s local CASA, to ensure that local area SOCIT teams are aware of the event and DW counsellors. Local CASA’s have at times been present onsite with a resource table and as part of the DW team. Ability for counsellors to provide secondary consultation and debriefing to all event staff and volunteers who may have witnessed GBV, other traumas or have been a first responder Ability for counsellors to respond to other festival incidents at request of EMT/ECC Provision of active bystander rovers, who role model bystander intervention and provide education about consent Let's Work Together DW’s GBV and Mental Health Service is offered as an additional fee for service to festivals and events and is meant to complement and enhance DanceWize core operations. When the service is requested, the DW GBV and Mental Health service works in collaboration with core operations staff and volunteers to enhance the overall well-being of patrons and staff at festivals and events. The GBV and Mental Health Service offers a comprehensive suite of services, and festivals can choose which activities they would like to engage with. The service is focused on interventions that target the whole festival community.   More information about the service can be requested by emailing  info@dancewize.org.au

Expressions Of Interest Interested individuals should Email submissions, Including: 1. A detailed Curriculum Vitae / Resume highlighting relevant experience and qualifications. 2. A cover letter outlining your interest in the position and how your skills and experience align with the Key Selection Criteria and Key Accountabilities in the Position Description below. 3. Contact details of two references who can speak to your suitability for the role. Email: admin@hrvic.org.au Due Date: CLOSED Subject Line: “DW Coordinator EOI application” Harm Reduction Victoria is seeking expressions of interest from qualified individuals to fulfill the position of DanceWize Coordinator. DanceWize Coordinator Position Description Harm Reduction Victoria DanceWize Program Coordinator Hours per Week: 30.4 (.8 EFT) Award Classification: SCHADS Award 2010: Social & Community Services Level 5 (dependent on experience) Position Objective: The DanceWize Coordinator leads operational activities of HRVic’s DanceWize (DW) Program, coordinating DW casual staff and volunteers to increase peer advice and referral at key dance/festival events, with the aim of reducing the incidence and impact of drug-related harms at events in Victoria. This includes coordinating a DanceWize drop-in care space at events and the delivery of harm reduction resources and messages to people who use drugs. This role may require the observation of drug-affected peers and appropriate referrals to first aid or emergency services as required. The DanceWize Coordinator will also be responsible for maintaining a range of event stakeholder relationships including with emergency services personnel, managing program budgets and inventory, setting cultural and professional expectations for staff and volunteers, contributing to policy work and campaigns relevant to music events, and leading the strategic development of the DanceWize Program. - To work with the CEO, Organisational Services team, and Finance Officer on timely program budget maintenance, including prompt reconciliation of expenditures. - To contribute to setting priorities for the program, within budget constraints based on funding, in collaboration with the CEO, Organisational Services, and the Finance Officer - Coordinate the safe use of the work vehicle - Coordinate the monitoring of DanceWize inventory Key accountabilities Operational and Event Activity Program Management Team Management / Volunteer oversight To develop DanceWize Operational Plan components for service delivery at events, in collaboration with other DW staff, including rosters and pre-event preparation. - To liaise with external staff involved in the promotion and production of events such as venue staff, security, promoters, emergency management stakeholders and permit issuers and report as needed to the HRVic CEO. - In collaboration with DW staff, develop and maintain mechanisms to evaluate and document the service delivery operations of the program to meet all data collection and reporting requirements, including reporting to funders and stakeholders - To coordinate and manage the DanceWize Team, in consultation with other DW staff - Coordinate a team of volunteer KPEs and collaborate with other DW staff - Ensure ongoing recruitment, training and ongoing support of DanceWize volunteers -Provision and recording of professional development for volunteers - Plan fortnightly meetings for DanceWize volunteers and co-facilitating /co- convening with other DW staff and guest trainers Team Duties Key Relationships - To be an active and contributing member of the HRVic team, fostering a healthy, collaborative and productive working environment. - Maintain a high level of professionalism in the conduct of all work-related duties. - Attend and contribute to HRVic team meetings, and other relevant meetings, as required. - Participate in professional development and training, sharing relevant insights and developments with team members. - Participate in operation of NSP - Other reasonable duties as directed by the CEO. Internal - Chief Executive Officer - Organisational Services Coordinator - DanceWize staff - DanceWize Volunteer Team External - Dance event promoters, communications personnel and contractors eg. health providers, security staff etc - Health providers and other health professionals - Emergency health services - Victoria Police - Researchers Key Selection Criteria Essential - An intimate knowledge and understanding of the health, social and legal iss ues that affect people who are part of the dance party scene. This must include a sophisticated understanding of the pharmacology of drugs commonly used within the community, the social and cultural contexts in which these substances are used and the factors that can contribute to increased risk of harms. - The capacity to work closely and to interact effectively with people in the dance party industry and with local and State government representatives, police and emergency and other health service providers. - Demonstrated experience managing and leading volunteers. - Excellent written communication skills, including demonstrated experience producing project/activity reports and contributing to funding submissions. - Excellent organisational skills, including the ability to prioritise workloads and meet deadlines in a demanding work environment. - Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build and maintain strong partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders including government and community health organisations, event promoters, venue staff and researchers. - Enthusiasm, confidence and the ability to work autonomously, as part of a diverse team and in the supervision of co-workers and volunteers. - The capacity and willingness to, on occasion, be on call at dance music parties and events for up to four consecutive days/nights. - Competent computer skills, including a functional knowledge of Word and Excel as well as common internet and email applications. - A current legal entitlement to drive a car in Victoria. - A significant, personalised experience of the issues affecting people who use illicit drugs - Formal or informal experience in harm reduction-oriented peer education. - A work and/or volunteering history that clearly attests to the candidate’s reliability, honesty and the capacity to adhere to policy guidelines and work-place procedures. - Working With Children Check Desirable -Experience working with DanceWize or other festival / event peer harm reduction services - Formal qualifications and/or demonstrated professional or volunteer experience in community development, health promotion or similar disciplines. Position Description .PDF Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further assessment and interview. We welcome expressions of interest from individuals who reflect the diversity of our community. Harm Reduction Victoria is an equal opportunity employer committed to promoting inclusivity and preventing discrimination. If you have any questions or require further information about this opportunity, please contact Sione Crawford at admin@hrvic.org.au We look forward to receiving your expression of interest. Please note that the role is currently being filled on a fixed-term basis and that there may be internal applicants. Join The Team

HRVic is a community based and governed not-for-profit organisation. Our membership, staff and supporters include current and former people who use drugs. HRVic BOARD 2021-2022 "The speed of decision making is the essence of good governance. -Piyush Goyal 1/1 ROBYN DWYER president@hrvic.org.au Robyn Dwyer has more than 20 years’ experience in harm reduction and drugs research. She has worked at several research and health centres in Melbourne and Sydney, including the National Drug Research Institute, Burnet Institute and Kirketon Road Centre. Robyn currently works at the Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University. In all her work, Robyn aims to give voice to people who choose to consume drugs and to challenge stereotypes and false ideas that perpetuate stigma and discrimination experienced by the drug consumer community. Robyn joined the Board of HRVic in 2011 and has served as Board President since 2015. Picture 1 KATIA LALLO Katial@hrvic.org.au Katia is a community lawyer and advocate for the rights of criminalised people and communities. Her work is informed by de-carceration and grassroots organising, especially in the space of community legal education. Katia is interested in the way the law impacts on the lives of people who consume drugs, and its implications for individual and community safety and self-determination. Katia is a community lawyer and advocate for the rights of criminalised people and communities. Her work is informed by de-carceration and grassroots organising, especially in the space of community legal education. Katia is interested in the way the law impacts on the lives of people who consume drugs, and its implications for individual and community safety and self-determination. Picture 2 TONY WYATT tonyw@hrvic.org.au Tony has over 15 years of board level experience across the public, commercial & not for profit sectors, with particular experience in the health and pharmaceutical sector. Board level highlights include: Member of the DHHS Methadone Advisory Committee; Executive Director of the HPS Board and Member of the HPS Shareholder Committee. As a Non-Executive Director he contributed to the development of one of the first non-Government community AOD treatment centres in Victoria and later took over the management of the not for profit program at Moreland Hall. Tony advocated to the PBS on 2 separate occasions to have methadone added to the PBS and worked on a number of pharmacotherapy innovations. With a Master of Business Administration, a Bachelor of Pharmacy and as a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Tony has a range of ways to contribute to the HRVic Board . Picture 3 PENNY HILL pennyh@hrvic.org.au Penny Hill is the current Deputy Secretary of the Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs, Oceania Representative to the International Drug Policy Consortium’s Members Advisory Council, Board Member of Harm Reduction Australia, Vice President of Harm Reduction Victoria, and co-founder of Students for Sensible Drug Policy Australia. Penny has recently submitted her PhD thesis focussed on opioid overdose through the Burnet Institute, and currently works as an Emerging Drugs Research Fellow at UNSW. Penny started working in the harm reduction sector as an NSP worker, and has substantial experience working and volunteering in various harm reduction services, including peer-led supervised consumption sites, festival spaces and drug checking services in Australia, New Zealand and Canada . Picture 4 PETER HIGGS peterh@hrvic.org.au ‘Growing up’ in the inner suburbs of Sydney while studying a social work degree pre NSP in the mid-1980s meant learning lots about drugs and the people who use them. My first job in Melbourne in 1988 was on the North Melbourne high-rise housing estate which was ‘awash with heroin’. This led me to work with families who were greatly impacted and very confused about harm reduction. Much of my work over the past 25 years has been in and around the Footscray ‘street scene’ through a range of different iterations - with a couple of long stints in Vietnam doing HIV peer-based prevention work. Most of my recent work has a focus on hep C and changes in drug use patterns. I’m keen to give what knowledge and support I can to HRVic as I step back in my paid research work roles and look forward to the opportunities available. Picture 5 GABY BRUNING gabylb@hrvic.org.au Gaby has been working primarily with Aboriginal clients in the AOD sector for the last 8 years as an AOD Clinician and Harm Reduction Practitioner. I wish to run for the Board because I believe in HRVic, and I believe in advocating for the human rights of people who use drugs. Picture 6 CRAIG HARVEY craigh@hrvic.org.au My professional background has focused on supporting marginalised communities, those that inject drugs and male sex workers, in the UK. Since arriving in Australia in 2006 I have held a number of both frontline and management roles supporting people who use drugs, with a focus on innovative harm reduction strategies. Picture 7

Hepatitis C- Testing, Treatment & Prevention Are you looking for a GP to prescribe you the new hep C treatment? We have compiled a list of clinics and doctors who are happy to treat people who are currently using drugs without judgement or shame - and who we know are prescribing the new Hep C meds. We have no way of guaranteeing that you will get an appointment but hopefully, with these few tools, it will make the getting of the new hep C treatment a little bit easier for us all. Melbourne Area Northern Suburbs/ Inner North West ReGen -Coburg Integrated Hep C Clinical Nurse Consultant- Sally Watkinson 26 Jessie St, Coburg VIC 3058 Phone: (03) 9386 2876 Website: www.regen.org.au *Wednesday Afternoons - 2-4:30pm Grantham Street Practice Dr Ohnmar John 69 Grantham Street Brunswick West, VIC 3055 Phone: (03) 9380 1384 Website: http://www.gsgp.com.au/ Lotus Medical Centre Dr Magdy Ramzy Address : Suite 3 & 4 200 Sydney Road, Brunswick VIC 3056 Phone: (03) 9380 1588 Website: Northside Clinic All GPs 370 St Georges Road, Fitzroy North VIC 3068 Phone: (03) 9485 7700 Website: www.northsideclinic.net.au Western Suburbs/ Inner West coHealth Healthworks – Footscray Dr 4-12 Buckley Street Footscray VIC 3011 Phone: (03) 9362 8100 Website: https://www.cohealth.org.au Meadows Medical Centre Dr. Michael Aufgang Address: 311 Queen St. Altona Meadows VIC 3028 Phone: (03) 9369 4266 Hours: 9am–6pm Website: coHealth Kensington Dr Nadia Chaves visiting infectious disease specialist. GP referral required. Address: 12 Gower Street, Kensington Phone: (03) 8378 1600 coHealth Joslin Clinic Doctor(s): Dr Erin Gordon Address: 575a Barkly Street, Footscray Phone: (03) 9912 2000 coHealth Paisley St, Footscray Doctor(s): Dr Erin Gordon Address: 78 Paisley Street, Footscray Phone: (03) 8398 4100 Please note: If people are not already a patient at cohealth or Inner Space then they will need to be seen as a new patient, which requires a double appointment. coHealth Braybrook or coHealth Laverton Integrated Hep C Clinical Nurse Consultant- Sally Watkinson Call 9448 5507 for appointments. Walk in’s are fine but best to call first. Tuesdays – 9.30 -12.30 Inner City coHealth Fitzroy Doctor(s): Dr Ohnmar John, Dr Sophie Mancey-Jones Address : 75 Brunswick St, Fitzroy 3065 Phone: (03) 9411 3555 Please note: If people are not already a patient at cohealth or Inner Space then they will need to be seen as a new patient, which requires a double appointment. coHealth Collingwood Doctor(s): Dr Kate Coles Address : 365 Hoddle St, Collingwood Phone: (03) 9411 4333 Victorian Aboriginal Health Service Doctor(s): Dr Ohnmar John Address : 186 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy 3065 Phone: (03) 9419 3000 Errol St Medical Centre, North Melbourne Doctor(s): Dr Zahra Mokhayer ONLY Address : 65-67 Errol St, North Melbourne VIC 3051 Phone: (03) 9329 7011 Victoria Street Acupuncture & Medical Clinic, North Melbourne Doctor(s): Dr John Jagoda Address : 436 Victoria St, North Melbourne VIC 3051 Phone: (03) 9328 4034 Website: www. vmac.com.au we have a Div 1 Nurse full time on the premises. North Richmond Community Health, North Richmond Doctor(s): All GPs Address : 23 Lennox St, Richmond VIC 3121 Phone: (03) 9418 9800 Website: http://www.nrch.com.au/ Appointments need to be booked online nrch.com.au Youth Projects Living Room Currently closed for renovations Integrated Hep C Clinical Nurse Consultant- Sally Watkinson 7-9 Hosier Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000 Phone: (03) 9662 4488 Website: http://www.youthprojects.org.au/health/programs/living-room *Must be homeless or at risk of homelessness Inner Space- Health Living Clinic Address : 4 Johnston Street, Collingwood Vic 3066 Phone: (03)9468 2800 Website: innerspace.org.au Please note: If people are not already a patient at cohealth or Inner Space then they will need to be seen as a new patient, which requires a double appointment. Inner South Access Health, St Kilda Dr Belinda McDonald, Dr Josephine Samuel-King & Dr Joseph Sherman 31 Grey St, St Kilda VIC 3182 03) 9536 7780 Website:: http://crisisservicesnetwork.org.au/access-health/ Starhealth / Better Health Network Dr Belinda McDonald, & Dr Joseph Sherman 341 Coventry Street South Melbourne 3205 03) 9525 1300 First Step, St Kilda Integrated Hep C Clinical Nurse Consultant- Sally Watkinson 42 Carlisle St, St Kilda VIC 3182 Phone : T: (03) 9537 3177 Website: www.firstep.org.au *Monday Afternoons St Kilda Superclinic Dr Simon Rose Acland Court, 156-160 Acland St, St Kilda VIC 3182 Phone : (03) 9525 5766 Website: http://www.salvationarmy.org.au/en/Find-Us/Victoria/CrisisServices/Program-Information/Health-Services/ South East Prahran Market Clinic, Prahran Dr. Sven Strecker Pran Central Shopping Centre, 325 Chapel St, Prahran VIC 3181 Phone : T: (03) 9514 0888 Website: www.prahranmarketclinic.com *Apparently ALL doctors at this clinic are prescribing East/ North East Wantirna Medical Clinic Dr Kristina Flego 103 Harold Street, Wantirna VIC 3152 Phone : T: (03) 9800 2088 Website: Side note: We Need Your Help! At HRVic , we receive calls and emails daily from our community asking about hep C treatment prescribers. We have been compiling a Treatment Prescriber list for the past few years and it is turning out to be much more difficult than we first imagined and a whole lot more work. As well as this, some doctors are asking us to NOT to put them on a list as the few who are prescribing, are over run with patients at the moment. If you are wondering if your GP or a clinic near you is prescribing the new treatments, the best thing to do is CALL the clinic directly and ask them. If you find out that they are or aren’t, then please let us know so we can add it to our list or take them off. We are all in this together and if we can all help each other out the better we will all be for it. We would appreciate any assistance you can give in this matter. Regional Victoria Ballarat Ballarat Community Health *ALL 3 Locations Doctor(s): Hep C Nurse(s)- Kirsty Simpson and/or Chloda Sainsbury* Address : 12 Lilburne St LUCAS, 10 Learmonth Rd WENDOUREE, 260 Vickers St SEBASTOPOL, 19 Heales St SMYTHESDALE Phone : Kirsty- (03) 53384572 , Chloda- (03) 53204211 *Mondays and Wednesdays Romsey Romsey Medical Doctor(s):Dr Paul Grinzi Address : 99 Main Street, Romsey VIC 3434 Phone : (03) 5429 5254 Wodonga, Mildura and Sheparton Doctor(s): Integrated Hep C Clinical Nurse Consultant- Sally Watkinson *please contact Sally for more details sally.watkinson@mh.org.au Gisborne Neal Street Medical Clinic Doctor(s): Dr Ben Crowther Address : 5 Neal St Gisborne VIC Phone : (03) 5483 3333 Drouin West Gippsland Family Practice Doctor(s): All Address : 25 Young Street, Druin VIC 3818 Phone : (03) 56256500 and 03) 56256555 **HAS A VEIN FINDER** Our list is being maintained & updated as often as needed & is possible. If you are getting treated or have been treated and have had a GOOD experience WITHOUT judgement or shame around your substance use or your situation, PLEASE SHARE your story with the rest of our community as some of us are having a difficult time finding an understanding doctor or PLEASE FEEL FREE TO POST ON OUR #TREATME FACEBOOK PAGE Find out all the latest on the Direct Acting Antiviral treatments and their effects and speak to others who have had or are thinking about having the new treatments for Hep C, on our HRVic #treatme facebook page https://www.facebook.com/hrvic.treatme ABOUT THE DAAs (DIRECT ACTING ANTIVIRALS) Blood Borne Virus Peer Workshops & Staff Training NEXT PEER WORKSHOPS COMING UP NEXT STAFF TRAINING COMING UP

Peer education and care at festivals and events Victoria wide. Program of Harm Reduction Victoria Top of Page Gallery Features Say Know To Drugs. Peer to Peer Event and Festival Care WHO is DanceWize? 3 DANCEWIZE STAFF 200 + VOLUNTEERS - FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE: STUDENTS & NURSES, TO AOD WORKERS & ARTISTS TO SOCIAL WORKERS & BAR ISTAS...BUT SUPPORTED BY 25 HRVIC STAFF ALL WITH LIVING OR LIVED EXPERIENCE AND ARE FROM THE MUSIC/FESTIVAL COMMUNITY. CLICK HERE Event Managers or Promoters REQUEST DANCEWIZE SERVICES AT YOUR NEXT EVENT CLICK HERE Drug Information -SUBSTANCE INFO -DRUG COMBOS -ALERTS -MORE Volunteer for DanceWIze APPLY TO BE A DANCEWIZE KEY PEER EDUCATOR (KPE) or COUNSELLOR* CLICK HERE EST. 1999 DanceWize is the original, Australian, peer-based alcohol and other drugs (AOD) harm reduction program that delivers peer care and support services for music events and festivals across Victoria. Starting as a grassroots Victorian group known as RaveSafe, DanceWize has been a program of Harm Reduction Victoria (HRVic) since 1999 and is a Victorian Department of Health (DoH) funded health promotion charity. The DanceWize program model was adopted in NSW in 2017 and is administered there by NUAA. HRVic is part of a national network which is able to support the emergence of similar programs in other parts of the country too. This network promotes health rights, human rights and harm reduction. EXPERIENCE & EXPERTISE DanceWize is a peer support and event care service. For over 20+ years we have been providing peer education, safer substance use resources and referrals for related mental & physical health and wellbeing issues in an understanding, non-judgemental safe spaces at music events and festivals throughout Victoria and Australia. Our team members come with a range of their own work and lived/living experiences. We add the perfect mix of ongoing and up to date training to their skillset to equip them to care for intoxicated persons or people who need other support in party settings. AWARD WINNING CARE As DanceWize Team Leads and Key Peer Educators (KPEs), our volunteers undergo a range of training including First Aid (HLTFA003), Mental Health First Aid and but we do not operate as a First Aid provider, as this is not the program’s objective. We work as part of an event's Health Emergency Management Plan (HEMP) and alongside health providers and other on-site services. The efficacy of this peer-based program model is evidence-based and in 2016 HRVic’s DanceWize won the Minister of Health’s award for Outstanding Achievement by Volunteers Supporting Diversity. GENDER BASED VIOLENCE & MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE EQUIPPED DanceWize have the resources to deliver full-scale peer support services on-site at a limited number of events each year, but we are designed as a public-private partnership. For example, DoH covers our core operational costs, which allows us to offer subsidised services, and event organisers are expected to contribute toward our expenses on a cost-recovery basis. Dancewize also have resources to deliver comprehensive Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Mental Health services, including pre-event training and consultation and onsite service delivery that support festivals to prevent, recognise and respond to incidents of sexual and family violence onsite. If you’d like more information about our services, get in touch today. Get in Touch WHAT PEOPLE SAY “Dear DanceWize, Your care, wisdom & sincere love held me so close to this world as I was falling out of it. Thank you so much. I am filled with gratitude & respect for your work & guidance. Huge love to DW volunteer Andrew who helped me name my future llamas and filled my eyes with love. All the best 4eva. ” — M,undisclosed event

NOW OPEN! The Victorian Pill Testing service at 95 Brunswick St, Fitzroy. - Opening hours, and all other features of the service, will be up for continuous review and improvement based on need and feedback (see below for ways to feed in). - You can come in and get any pills, powders, crystals, gels, or liquids tested on a range of fancy new technology (FTIR and GCMS instruments, as well as reagents and nitazine and fentanyl test strips). - In the coming weeks, our Paper-Spray Mass Spectrometer (PCMS) will be coming on line to assist further quantification and strength testing. This is the first of its kind in Australia! - You are covered from prosecution for possession of small amounts of drugs (personal use amounts) inside 95 Brunswick St, Fitzroy. This is the legislated "drug checking place". You aren't covered for trafficable quantities, and it's important to avoid bringing any large amount of drugs into the service. Please spread this important message far and wide throughout the community. We are still working on how best to give clear, simple key messages around this, without going into the weeds of grams and milligrams and different substances. Again, this is a key area for feedback and comms advice from our community! - Yarra Area Command of Victoria Police, have been instructed by the Chief Commissioner of Police to show "discretion in the vicinity" for possession of small amounts of illicit drugs for personal use, and not to discourage people accessing the drug checking place. Any issues with safely accessing the service should be communicated to service providers and to HRVic specifically. - Harm Reduction Victoria are employing harm reduction peer workers with living experience of drug use on every shift. 2 peer workers will be available each shift to provide you your drug checking results, who will be working alongside 2 Health and Harm reduction Workers with healthcare training, who are from our partners at The Loop Australia. We will also be employing an Operations Lead for the fixed-site, which is a designated peer leadership role within the service. - Harm Reduction Victoria will also be setting up a Service User Reference Group in September, to inform service improvement and service evaluation throughout the rest of the trial. Make sure you're signed up for updates at: www.hrvic.org.au/dcsignupdates - There are QR codes up at the service that link to an anonymous feedback and complaints form for all service users to access, as well. And we encourage any and all feedback, always! This is just the beginning of drug checking in Victoria, and we need your input. - We are also working on ways to further include more members of our community in the rest of the trial, and in Harm Reduction Victoria's work preparing for the end of the trial come August 2026. You can email: policy@hrvic.org.au to inquire further about this, ask questions, or share your feedback and ideas. And again, make sure you're signed up for updates at: hrvic.org.au/dcsignupdates Come and say hey any Thursday, Friday or Saturday arvo, and get your drugs checked Free, legal, and anonymous! And join in with this exciting new investment into harm reduction in Victoria 🙂

Northern Suburbs The Northern Suburbs area covers Maribyrnong & Essendon to Taylors Lakes & Tullamarine up to Craigieburn to Bundoora and back to Reservoir, Thornbury and Northcote. This list consists of the clinic names and their locations. If you click on their address you will open the google maps page for that location. To book at any of these locations, you will still need to call 1800 675 398 or through the online booking system (you need an email address to sign up) unless it states otherwise. Broadmeadows Town Hall 10 Dimboola Road Broadmeadows VIC Open Monday to Friday 9.30am-5.30pm Closed on weekends and public holidays Bookings accepted, check the online booking system or call 1800 675 398 for availability. Walk ins are accepted at this vaccination centre for Pfizer and AstraZeneca. Campbellfield Ford Complex Drive-Through Vaccination Clinic 358 Barry Road, Campbellfield VIC 3061 Open every day, 8am-8pm Bookings accepted, check the online booking system or call 1800 675 398 for availability. Walk ins are not accepted at this vaccination centre. COMING SOON Stay tuned for more locations. Latrobe University - Bundoora campus Car park 6, 45 Ring Road Bundoora VIC 3083 Open every day 8am-3pm Bookings accepted, check the online booking system or call 1800 675 398 for availability. Walk-ins are accepted at this vaccination centre, for Moderna only. Campbellfield Ford Complex In-person Vaccination Clinic 358 Barry Road, Campbellfield VIC 3061 Friday to Wednesday 8am-4.30pm, Thursday 11am-7.30pm Bookings accepted, check the online booking system or call 1800 675 398 for availability. Walk ins are accepted at this vaccination centre. COMING SOON Stay tuned for more locations. FIND A PHARMACY NORTHERN

DanceWize team members come from all over Victoria, from all walks of life, and all backgrounds with a love of and lived experience of the festival/doof/party and EDM communities the thread they all have in common. Invaluable knowledge, empathy, integrity, and motivation from their own experiences accompanies every DW key peer educator on each shift. All DW team members and team leads identify as peers to the communities of people who use drugs in the music scenes that they love and as such, allow for a greater understanding of their community members' experiences, equipping them with the skills and empathy needed to provide relevant, nonjudgmental support to festival patrons who use drugs. Volunteers are inducted and trained to fulfil the role of Key Peer Educator (KPE). DanceWize KPEs have several areas of responsibility at an event including roving, brief interventions and education, info sharing and care interventions. Volunteer intake and induction training happens during the winter season only. Once you have submitted a completed online form (button below), you will be added to our monthly DW Peer E-Newsletter, which includes all new information about training opportunities. You should start receiving this E-News straight away but you can always keep updated through our facebook page and groups. As DanceWize provides 1 on 1 care in Click on the link and fill out the form. NEW Vollys VOLUNTEER HERE Current KPEs What Does A DanceWIze Volunteer KPE Do? Care Interventions Care interventions mostly occur on site, at events within the DanceWize space; an airconditioned/heated, private, safe, chill space dedicated to providing support and 1:1 care to patrons experiencing distress or just needing a break. KPEs provide various types of care depending on the needs of each individual patron. The DW Chill space is always co-located with onsite medical services and we monitor our patrons carefully while awake or asleep to determine if they need further care or support. Roving Care Roving Care teams consist of a minimum of two KPEs walking throughout event grounds, campsites and party perimeters , keeping an eye out for people who may be feeling less than great or are confused. Our Rovers can provide support either directly through supplies they have on hand and support or if necesary can radio the DW Chill space, security or medical if needed. Our rovers have radio contact with all necessary service providers. Our DW Rovers are on the look out for signs of overdose or distress, and are often the first point of contact for a patron needing further intervention or assistance. GBV/ Trauma Counsellor The role of a GBV/Trauma Counsellor is specialised and requires volunteers to have appropriate post grad qualifications in Social Work, Counselling, Psychology, or for someone to have had extensive experience in the community services sector. Interviews will take place for these roles with the GBV Service Manager and a Team Coordinator Brief Interventions Brief interactions occur either onsite at an event or in transit to and from an event or in the DanceWize/HRVic office /NSP environment . KPEs and staff assist patrons and service providers alike to learn more about substance use, polydrug interactions, myth busting, drugs and the law, and referrals to services as required. Our KPEs are extensively trained to be able to answer questions that patrons might have regarding drugs, safer use, and other health and self care tips. We have extensive resources produced by HRVic and DW as well as other orgs available at every event, alongside consumables such as sunscreen, water and hydrating powders, lollypops, ear plugs, hand sanitiser, masks, condoms and NSP equipment. Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Mental Health services The GBV and Mental Health Service offers a comprehensive suite of services , and festivals can choose which activities they would like to engage with. The service is focused on interventions that target the whole festival community. For more info please click HERE. DW Team Lead Experienced KPEs can apply to become a Team Leader, and if successful receive extra training and support to fulfil higher duties of responsibility in leading teams of KPEs at events. Some Team Lead roles at specific events are casual paid roles. Apply to be a Trauma Counsellor or Roving Active Bystander

Subutex is the less widely used of two buprenorphine formulations available to opiate pharmacotherapy consumers in Victoria, (Suboxone being the other). Subutex is a mono-formulation of buprenorphine available in 0.4, 2 & 8mg sub-lingual tablets. It was the first buprenorphine product to become available in Victoria, but has been largely superseded by Suboxone (a buprenorphine/naloxone formulation.) The presence of the opiate antagonist naloxone in Suboxone makes it less attractive than Subutex to clients who may wish to divert their dose with intention of injecting it. Because of the harms associated with this practice, doctors are less willing to prescribe Subutex and take away doses are only available in a handful of circumstances. Subutex tablets are placed beneath the tongue, where they are absorbed directly into the blood-stream through the mucous membrane. Clients on low doses sometimes find Subutex preferable because the 0.4mg tablet can allow for more accurate dosing. Basic Pharmacology of Buprenorphine Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist. It binds strongly to the same receptors as other opiates, but stimulates them only weakly, producing very little of an opiate effect. Once the buprenorphine molecule is locked onto the receptor, it remains there much longer than other opiates like heroin and methadone. If such drugs are taken while on buprenorphine, their effects will be much reduced. Buprenorphine’s affinity for the receptor is powerful enough to displace opiates like heroin and methadone. For this reason, the initial dose of buprenorphine should be low (i.e. < 8mg) and, ideally, the client should be in the first stages of opioid withdrawal. If a dependent client takes a large dose of buprenorphine after recent use of heroin – or before the onset of withdrawal – the buprenorphine can precipitate immediate and full withdrawal. This is an extremely unpleasant, uncomfortable experience to be avoided at all cost. The Ceiling Effect An interesting feature of buprenorphine is its ceiling effect. Up to a certain point, the more buprenorphine that is taken, the greater the opiate effect. Past that point, increasing the dose only results in a longer duration of action and no increased opiate effect. This means that some people can have their daily dose increased (usually doubled) and the dose will last for two days instead of one. This can be very useful for those who have difficulty reaching their dosing points, and can remove the need for take aways during the first month of treatment. Though scientific evidence is scant, this ceiling effect presumably varies with the individual. The maximum allowable dose of buprenorphine is 32mg. Injecting Subutex If another opiate – like heroin, methadone or oxycodone – is present in the system when Subutex is injected, precipitated withdrawal may result, as the opioid will be rapidly displaced from opiate receptors by the buprenorphine. Injecting Subutex carries serious health risks and is not recommended. If the medication is removed from the mouth prior to injection, these risks are compounded. For more information about the harms associated with injecting Subutex, please contact PAMS. Take Away Doses of Subutex There are no routine take away doses of Subutex, unless the consumer is: Pregnant and/or breast-feeding Has a documented allergy to the naloxone (present in Suboxone). Is on a dose of <2mg (this because a 0.4mg tablet of buprenorphine is available, but not in the combined buprenorphine-naloxone (Suboxone) formulation. If a person meets any of the above criteria, take away doses may be provided if the prescriber assesses the client as being stable and there are no other issues of concern. If you have any questions or want to discuss your individual situation, please contact PAMS PH: 1800 443 844.

Bloody Serious Facts is the original Hep C workshop developed by people with lived experience of hep C & healthcare professionals specifically designed for AOD workers, nurses, NSP workers, community health staff, students of health professions BLOODY SERIOUS FACTS ONLINE Our NEW 'Bloody Serious Facts ONLINE' 1 hour zoom session is the essential new 'little sister' of the popular 2.5 hour face to face workshops (due back in September hopefully!). The new online version of BSF is FREE. Hepatitis C - Bloody Serious Facts …….a partnership between St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne and Harm Reduction Victoria. The online education session covers: - The basics of Hep C : Transmission, testing and diagnosis - Treatments – curing hepatitis C: Keep up to date with the anti-viral tablets that are changing people's lives. - The impact & meaning of living with hepatitis C: An insight into living with Hep C and the treatment journey by a person with lived experience. - Why is injecting such high risk? : A practical demonstration of the risks of transmission during the mixing up and injecting process. - Suitable for AOD workers, nurses, NSP workers, community health, mental health or anyone who works with people who are at risk of or affected by Hepatitis C. - All welcome - Nurses earn 1.5 CPD points To see more info or to register, click on the link below. LIMITED NUMBERS - BOOK NOW Mon 6 Sept 2021: 10am – 11.15am Click here to register Tues 16 Nov 2021: 10am – 11.15am Click here to register REGISTER NOW BLOODY SERIOUS FACTS- (Face To Face postponedindefinitely due to COVID) BSF is run in partnership between St Vincents Melbourne's Victorian Viral Hepatitis Educator and people with lived experience of drug use and hep c from Harm Reduction Victoria- Victoria's peer run drug user organisation. Bloody Serious Facts is a hands-on workshop that was developed and is run by healthcare professionals and people with lived experience of Hep C. This training is suitable for AOD workers, nurses, NSP workers, community health or anyone who works with people who are at risk of or affected by Hepatitis C. All welcome. *Nurses – earn 2.5 CPD points The 2.5 hour session covers: Back to Basics of Hep C : Testing, Transmission, Diagnoses and Treatment-Everything you wanted to know about this amazingly resilient but treatable virus. Treatments - Then and Now: Keeping up to date with the direct acting anti virals that are changing people's lives. The Impact & Meaning of Being Hep C + : An insight into living with Hep C and the treatment journey by a person with lived experience. A Practical Exercise : The not so obvious risks of transmission during the mixing up and injecting process. Location: Aikenhead Building (GROUND FLOOR) at St Vincent's Hospital Cnr Nicholson St and Victoria Pde, Fitzroy VIC Cost: $25.00 per person Tickets available through Eventbrite or purchase here. Due to demand we have 'upped' the workshops to 5 different dates to choose from in 2020, so you don't need to miss out! ** Dates in RED have been postponed due to COVID19 restrictions. Please contact janed@hrvic.org.au if you are unsure about your event date or contact through Eventbrite if you would like a refund. Be sure that you have booked the correct date for you! FAQs What are my transport/parking options for getting to and from the event? For people who need to drive in, there is a small multi-level carpark (paid) attached to the hospital however , if you can avoid bringing a car, there is ample public transport options. Many trams go right past the front door and we are only a short walk from Parliament station. My organisation wants to pay by invoice. Is this option available for payment? Yes. We are happy to send invoices to orgs who can't pay by credit card or who want to send a few workers along. Follow the instructions under the ticket description or if you are still unsure, call us at HRVic . (03) 93291500 My organisation is located in rural Victoria and it's difficult for us to reach the city for the start time or we want to run one of these sessions for more than 10 of our workers at our location, do you do Bloody Serious Facts training on other sites for organisations? Anything is negotiable where hepatitis C education and harm reduction are concerned! Email us for details and enquiries at admin@hrvic.org.au or call (03)93291500 currently Not Happening

IT'S AGM TIME! 2025 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Harm Reduction Victoria invites it's members: Wednesday, the 10th of December at 3-5pm at Harm Reduction Victoria’s office at: 299-305 Victoria Street, Brunswick VIC 3056. We are also able to offer online access to the AGM via Teams. If a vote is needed for Board positions, we will arrange a process and let online attendees know on the day. We are a community, peer organisation and as such it is important that all members get a chance to be involved in our future, so please do join us if you can. One of the purposes of the AGM is to elect our Board. As a member, you can vote in Board elections. You can also nominate to join the Board. *IMPORTANT: Nominations for the Board must be made on the attached form and posted or emailed to the CEO. These need to arrive before midnight on Wednesday, 3rd of December 2025. If you are thinking about nominating to join the Board, HRVic asks that you meet with the CEO and a member of the Board Executive before submitting your nomination form. It's not an interview or interrogation and isnt as scary as it sounds - This is just to let you know what being on the Board is like and what is expected of Board members. Please get in touch with Snowy on admin@hrvic.org.au to arrange a time before this date. If you are unable to attend at all you may wish to vote by proxy which means getting someone who is attending to vote on your behalf. An “Appointment of Proxy” form is also attached with clear instructions on its use. Please call the office and ask if you have any questions & we look forward to seeing all of you in a few weeks. AGM Minutes 2024 (link to view 2024 HRVic AGM Minutes is below) If you attended in 2024, please check them over as we will need to approve them during this meeting. 2025 AGM Forms Download or Print your own AGM 2025 forms below. INVITE AGENDA HOW TO VOTE FORM & PROXY INFO MINUTES 2024 AGM 2023-24 ANNUAL REPORT ABOUT NOMINATING NOMINATION FORM